Issue - meetings

In June 2016, Cabinet approved the procurement of the care and support service in 4 extra care schemes. Unfortunately in July 2016 the incumbent provider gave notice to the Council as we were unable to come to an agreement on long term fees rates for this service. Interim arrangements were established but will expire at the end March 2018. Two opportunities have arisen from these circumstances: 1) to increase the length of contracts for care and support services in extra care in response to tenant and provider feedback; and 2) to bring all the care and support contracts into one tender, thereby achieving better value for money for the Council.

RESOLVED:

8.1 Approval to procure from the existing Accommodation Plus Services DPS, Lot 4.1 Care and Support Services be given, with an estimated combined value of £54.1 million and the issue of the invitation of tenders for the care and support service within 8 Extra Care Schemes (ECS’s) be approved, leading to an award of approximately three contracts with winning providers;

8.2 Approval for procurement via the DPS of contracts with a length of five years plus up to two years extension period for each contract be given; and

8.3 Approval be given to officers to evaluate the tenders referred to in 8.1 above on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in section 7.6 of the Cabinet report.

Councillor Krupesh Hirani, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, introduced the report which requested Cabinet approval in order to procure contracts to assist the delivery of the New Accommodation for Independent Living (NAIL) project. He outlined that eight extra care schemes were proposed, as detailed within the report, and that an invitation of tenders had been proposed for the award of three contracts in due course.

Councillor Southwood indicated that it would be important to build feasibility assessments into the procurement process. Councillor McLennan spoke in support of the proposals and said she would welcome a visit from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid MP, to see the Council’s innovation in this area.

RESOLVED that:

10.1    Approval to procure from the existing Accommodation Plus Services DPS, Lot 4.1 Care and Support Services be given, with an estimated combined value of £54.1 million and the issue of the invitation of tenders for the care and support service within 8 Extra Care Schemes (ECS’s) be approved, leading to an award of approximately three contracts with winning providers;

10.2    Approval for procurement via the DPS of contracts with a length of five years plus up to two years extension period for each contract be given; and

10.3    Approval be given to officers to evaluate the tenders referred to in 8.1 above on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in section 7.6 of the Cabinet report.